Dumping tray for trolley conveyers



July 2, 1935. E. v. FRANCIS DUMPING TRAY FOR TROLLEY CONVEYERS Filed March 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 u C 0 T T. NV 5 J E July 2,1935. 5. vi FRANCIS 2,007,044

DUMPING TRAY FOR TROLLEY CQNVEYERS Filed March 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN 7 '0 R Ear/e I/. Fran c/s.

Patented July 2, 1935 2,007,044

UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE v 2,007,044 DUMPING TRAY FOR TROLLEY CONVEYERS Earle V. Francis, Columbus, Ohio, assigno'r to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 9, 1931, Serial No. 521,361

17 Claims. (Cl. 198155) This invention at s t n w and useful Figure is a transverse vertical section through provements in trolley conveyers and more parth trolley conveyer; and ticularly to attachments therefor in the nature of Figure 6 i a fragmentary transverse section materia ry ng trays. v through the tray showing the one-piece con- 5 An imp r an bje t f th inv n i n is o picstruction thereof and its association with the load 5 v vide an attachment of this character which will carrying arm f th trolley hanger.

automatically cause the y to t o du p t Referring now more particularly to the drawdischarge material articles e om at a prelugs, for a detailed description of the invention, determined point D the numeral 8 designates an overhead trackway Another important object of the invention is to suspended by uprights 9 for the support of a 10 p vi actuating m n f r til ing the tray in plurality of trolleys, one of which. is shown in a manner move the Same yd tilting the drawings and which is glesignated in its enmovemehts; the normal position o t e ybe g tirety by the numeral Ill. These trolley hangers u s a t ly horizontally at rest p a s pp rt, may be of any desired construction but are here while its discharging position is at an angle of apshown in the form illustrated in my copending 15 proximately -60 to the horizontal with the forapplication Ser. No. 416,187, in which the upper 1 ward edge of the tray projected below the forward end of a hanger body H is provided on opposite end of the support. sides with rollers I2 for support upon the track- A further important object of the invention is way 8 for sustaining the load carried by the to provide an arrangement which will effectively hanger. 20 support the forward end of the tray which pro- Below the trackway 8, h h g is Pierced jects beyond the forward end of its support, under with an opening paralleling the trackway for the weight of any material or object placed upon the extension therethrough of a draft device i 3 the tray. consisting essentially of chain links l4 Joined 5 A still further object of the-invention is to proonvertical axes l5. At intervals in the draft as vide-gravity actuated means for returning the element and at points where it extends through tray to its normal position of support after the the openings in'the trolley bodies, a pair of inload has been discharged therefrom, and in additerconnected links or clevises I6 and'll are contion cooperating means are provided to permit the nected to the chain links on vertical axes I8 gradual return-of the tray to normal position disposed on opposite sides of the hanger body 30 without shocks thereto. with the clevises projecting through the opening A still further object of the invention is to in the hanger as shown. The inner ends of these provide the load carrying arm of a trolley hanger two clevises are interconnected by a pin and slot with means for Preventing swinging impulses connection as explained in the aforesaid appli-- initiated by the actuating mechanism for the cation and the intermediate portions thereof are 35 tray engaging the trip mechanism for causing pivotally mounted on horizontal axes l9 at oppodumping of the tray. site sides of the hanger body extending through Other objects and advantages of the invention links 20 arranged in the opening in the trolley will become apparent during the courseof the body so that movement of one clevis produces 40 following description. equal and corresponding angularv movement of 40 In the accompanying drawings forming a part its associated clevises whereby, in traversing verof the illustration and-wherein like numerals are tical curves in the trackway, the draft element employed to designate like parts throughout the can fiex on horizontal axes without subjecting several views, any of the parts to breaking stresses. As this Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a phase of the development is fully explained in trolley conveyer embodying the present improvemy copending application, a furtherdescription ments and showing the-tray in its normal subthereof is not essential for a complete understantially horizontal position of support; standing of the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the tray disclosed Supported by means of the uprights 9 at each in Figure 1 but shown in dumping position; side of the trolley body and below the same is 50 Figure 3 is a. similar view showing -the tray a pair of vertically spaced guide rails 2 I for a purreturning to normal position after the dumping pose which will be presently described.

operation; Pivotallytsuspended from the lowerend of the Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the" trolley ody I i a l carryirls arm 22 Which line 4 -4 of Figure 1; is offset or curved rearwardly with respect to the 55 direction of travel of the hanger so that its lower end is offset with respect to the vertical center line of the hanger. The rear face of this arm adjacent its upper end is provided with a rearwardly extending bearing 23 for the support of an axle carrying limiting guide rollers 24 of a size to engage the rails 21 of each pair and to roll upon the lower rails to prevent rearward swinging of the load carrying arm as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.

The lower end of the load carrying arm depends a considerable distance beneath the guide rails 2| and has secured thereto by bolts or other suitable means, a bracket 25 having a pair of forwardly extending substantially horizontal arms 28. These arms, in effect, provide the lower end of the load carrying arm with a substantially horizontally extending supporting portion constituted by the upper edges of the two arms 26. These upper edges of the arms engage and support a dumping tray 21 in a substantially horizontal load carrying'position as shown in Figure The tray is formed from a single blank of material having its forward edge 28 rolled downwardly and its side edges 29, as shown in Figure 5, curled in the same direction. The rear portion of the tray is bent upwardly to provide a back 38, which, in the normal substantially horizontal position of the tray, is arranged vertically and in close proximity to the lower end of the load carrying arm 22.

It will be observed that the forward edge of theforward portion of the tray projects a distance beyond the forward ends of the supporting arms 28 and in order tosupport this portion of the tray in both loaded and discharge positions of the tray, a pair of links 3| are pivotally connected-as at 32 to a pair of spaced brackets 33 secured to the bottom of the forward portion of the tray to depend therefrom as shown. The lower ends of thae two links are pivotally connected as at 34 to the forward ends of a pair of arms 35 fixed to shaft 38 extendingtransversely through the forward ends of the supporting arms 26. These arms 35 are arranged against either side of the arms 28 as best seen in Figure 4, depending upon the selective location of the trip mechanisms to be presently described and collars 31 are secured to 3| are disposed substantially vertically to ably .of the tray. Each lever is substantially U-shaped,

and one end 39 thereof is fulcrumed as at 48 on shaft 36 while the other end forms a trip 44 and terminates in a rounded end 45 constituti! an anti-friction surface.- The said lever is pivotally connected as at 4| to a bracket 42 secured to the bottom of the rear portion of the In order to trip the actuating levers 38 and to cause the trays to tilt to the position shown in Figure 2 to discharge a load therefrom, trips 48 are arranged in the paths of movement of the two actuating levers 38. Obviously, these trips may be arranged in various positions longitudinally with respect to the shaft 38 as indicated in dotted lines in Figure to correspond with the corresponding optional positions of the actuating levers 38 along this shaft so as to provide for the selective dumping of various trays at various points or stations along the path of travel thereof.

Each trip mechanism here shown is in the form of a pair of angle plates 41 which may be supported by any suitable means and are adapted to form bearings for a shaft 48 upon which and between the plates 41, is mounted a freely rotatable roller 49 serving in the capacity of a movable trip cam. The roller is mounted rearwardly in its supporting brackets 41 so that the upper inclined edges 50 of the brackets can be folded inwardly toward each other ,to provide an inclined plane disposed at substantially a tangent to the trip roller 49.

In operation, and assuming that the tray of Figure l carries a load, it will be observed that the tray, while slightly inclined downwardly from its forward to its rear edge, is nevertheless in a substantially horizontal position, supported at its rear edge upon the bracket arms 26 and at its forward portion by means of the vertical disposition of the links 3|. The actuating levers 38, due to the force of gravity, assume the position shown in Figure 1 with the arms 44 thereof in substantially horizontal positions and with their rounded forward ends 45 in position to engage the peripheries of the trip rollers 49 as the trolley hanger moves in a direction toward these trips. As the ends 45 of the actuating levers 38 engage the trip rollers 49, the levers are swung on the fulcrumed shaft 38 causing the 'pivots 4| to rise and thereby tilt the tray 21 as shown in Figure 2. As the tray is tilted forwardly, it is also bodily moved forwardly, and downwardly, due to the links 3| swinging on their pivots 32 and 34 simultaneously, thereby moving the links 3| to the position shown in Figure 2 at which time the load is discharged from the tray. As the free ends of the actuating lever 38 are moved over the trip rollers 49, the latter turning during this engagement, and as the levers are rolled forwardly, they begin to fulcrum on the shaft in a reverse direction due to the gravitational effect of these levers until their terminals 45 engage and ride down the inclined surface 50 of the trip brackets 41. During this movement, the tray is automatically and gradually returned to its normal position as the levers 38 continue to fulcrum to present their lower inclined edges and elbows upon the inclined surface 58 and slide down the same until they disengage therefrom and the tray comes to rest at its rear portion on the supporting arms 28 without shocks, while the forward portion of the tray is supported by the return of the links 3| to a substantially vertical position of support. This return movement of the trays is caused by the gravitational action of the actuating levers 38 endeavoring to seek their lowest level.

The engagement of the actuating levers 38 with the trip rollers creates a tendency for the load carry ng arm 22 to swing rearwardly, but this tendency is overcome by the rollers 24 engaging the guide rails 2|.

It is to be understood that various changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

2. In a trolley conveyer, a trolley hanger hav-.

ing a substantially horizontal supporting portion, a dumping tray normally positioned above and supported by said portion in a substantially horizontal position, and a rockable element pivoted to said supporting portion and engageable with the tray to tilt the same. f

3. In a trolley conveyer, a trolley hanger having a substantially horizontal supporting portion, a dumping tray normally positioned above a and supported by said portionin a substantially horizontal position, and a rockable element pivoted to said supporting portion andto the tray to cause the same to dump.

4. In a trolley'conveyer, a trolley hanger having a substantially horizontal supporting portion, a dumping tray normally positioned above and supported by said portion in a substantially horizontal position, a rockablefelement, pivots connecting said element to said supporting portion and to the tray, and said pivots being coplanar.

5. A conveyer attachment comprising a support, a dumping tray normally supported thereby in a substantially horizontal position, a substantially U-shaped member one end of which is fulcrumed on said support and the other end of which forms a trip, said member being pivotally connected to said tray.

6. A conveyer attachment comprising a support, a dumping tray normally supported thereby in a substantially horizontal position, a substantially U-shaped member one end of which is fulcrumed on said support and the other end of which forms a trip, said member being piv-' otallyconnected to the rear portion of said tray.

'7. A conveyer attachment comprising a support, a dumping tray normally supported thereby in a substantially horizontal position and adapted to be tilted to dumping position to discharge a load therefrom, and a gravity actuated trip. member connected to the tray for automatically seating the same upon the support after discharge.

8. A conveyer attachment comprising a support, a dumping tray normally supported thereby in a substantially horizontal position and adapted to be tilted to dumping position to discharge a load therefrom, and a gravity actuated member fulcrumed on the support and pivotally connected to the tray-for automatically seating the same upon the Support after discharge.

9. A conveyer attachment comprising. a'support, a dumping tray normally supported thereby in a substantially horizontal position with one end projecting beyond said support, a link pivotally connected to the projecting end of said tray and to the forward end of the support. and

normally arranged in a position to sustain loads in the forward end of the tray, and means engageable with the tray for tilting the same upon the pivots of said link.

10. A conveyer attachment comprising a support including a pair of spaced arms, a shaft secured in the free ends of said arms, a dumping tray normally supported 'on said arms,'a pair of 7 links carried by the shaft and projecting forwardly of said arms, a pair of links pivotally connected to the forward ends of the first named links and to the forward end of said tray, and an angle lever fulcrumed on said shaft and pivotally connected to the rear end of said tray.

11. In a trolley conveyer, the combination with trolley hanger mechanism, of a dumping tray fnormally supported thereon in a substantially horizontal position, activating means carried by said hanger mechanism and disposed below said tray, mechanism comprising a cam arm for effec'ting the operation of said activating means to dump the load off the tray, and means connected to said cam arm to partially counterbalance the tray and its actuating means to cause gradual movement of said tray to its horizontal position.

12. A conveyer attachment comprising a support, a dumping tray normally disposed thereabove in a. substantially horizontal position with one end projecting beyond said support, auxiliary supporting means comprising a vertical link for supporting the projecting end ofthe tray and its load when thetray is in horizontal position, and means for tilting the tray upon said auxiliary supporting means.

13. A conveyer attachment comprising a support, a dumping tray normally supported there-' by in a substantially horizontal position, a substantially U-shaped member pivotally connected to said tray, said U-shaped member being fulcrumed onsaid support and forming'a trip and counterbalance for said tray.

14. A conveyer attachment comprising a support, a dumping tray normally supported thereby in a substantially horizontal position, a substantially U-shaped member pivotally connected to said tray, one end 'of said U-shaped member being fulcrumed on said support and the other end thereof forming a trip adapted to swing to bothsides of the fulcrum point and at one side thereof constitute a counterbalance for said tray.

15. A conveyer attachment comprising a support, a dumping tray normally supported thereby in a substantiallyhorizontal position, a substantially U-shaped member pivotally connected to said tray, one end of said U-shaped member being fulcrumed on said support and the other end thereof forming a trip adapted to swing beneath and to both sides of the fulcrum point and at one side thereof constitute a counterbalance for said tray.

16. A conveyer attachment comprising a support, a dumping tray normally supported thereby in a substantially horizontal position, and actuating means pivotally connected to said tray to dump the same, said actuating means being fulcrumed on said support and forming a counterbalance for said tray.

17. In a trolley conveyer, the combination with a trolley hanger, of a track therefor, a pendant rearwardly offset load carrying arm pivoted to said hanger, a substantially horizontal support fixed to the lower end of said arm, tiltable load carrying means disposed above and carried by said support, said load carrying means being constantly urged toward substantiallyhorizontal load carrying position, tripping mechanism for said tiltable load carrying means, guiding means par- -allel to said track and comprising vertically spaced rails, and'anti-friction means carried by said arm and located in position to engage bothof said rails.

- EARLE V. FRANCIS. 

